Polestar has just commenced customer deliveries of the Polestar 3 SUV to customers in Europe and the US, with the first Polestar 3 handovers completed in a special ceremony at Polestar’s headquarters in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Customer deliveries in Germany and Norway are soon to follow, while in the US (where additional Polestar 3 manufacturing is to start soon), the first customer Polestar 3 SUVs will be handed over in California, Illinois, Indiana and New York.
The models being delivered are a mix of long range dual motor and long range dual motor with Performance Pack. These ‘Launch Edition’ cars are finished in a mixture of Snow, Thunder and Magnesium.
Kristian Elvefors, the global head of commercial at Polestar said orders have been strong.
“We always knew the Polestar 3 was going to be popular, but even we were blown away by the global media’s reviews and the response to opening up test drive bookings,” she said in a statement.
“It’s testament to the excitement in the market for this car and customer interest to get behind the wheel of our flagship electric SUV.”
Long range versions of the Polestar 3 have a WLTP driving range of up to 631km, although the performance pack reduces that to 561 km. (Mind-you, it also reduce the 0 – 100 km/h time from 5 seconds down to 4.7).
Charging is up to 11 kW (three phase) AC and 250 kW DC. It also has a close to class-leading tow rating of at up to 2,200 kg. (The Genesis GV70 is also 2,200 kg, with the class-leader being the Kia EV9 at 2,500 kg).
For the European market, the Polestar 3 has been announced as being capable of 11 kW for all three of vehicle to Load (V2L), Vehicle to Home (V2H) and vehicle to grid (V2G). Whether any (or all) of that functionality will be enabled for the Australian market has yet to be announced.
But the Polestar 3 is definitely NOT an entrant in the ‘reasonably priced’ bracket where most Early Majority buyers are looking to buy their first EV.
Instead, it is part of Polestar’s move to become an upmarket brand … and is priced accordingly.
In Australia it will retail from around $143,000 on the road in Victoria (i.e. where virtually no ZEV subsidies or incentives apply). For local State/Territory pricing – check the Polestar website. Australian deliveries are expected to commence in August.
Bryce Gaton is an expert on electric vehicles and contributor for The Driven and Renew Economy. He has been working in the EV sector since 2008 and is currently working as EV electrical safety trainer/supervisor for the University of Melbourne. He also provides support for the EV Transition to business, government and the public through his EV Transition consultancy EVchoice.